Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

We have made overflight and landing facilities available to the US authorities for over 50 years. That covered many crises and military confrontations, several of which involved the US taking military action and most, but not all, of which had UN endorsement. I refer to Kosovo, Vietnam and other places. We have never withdrawn or suspended these facilities at any stage during that prolonged period. Our position, like other countries involved in this issue, is clearly understood by all sides. This does not pose a difficulty for us.

We have not only raised the issue of nuclear plants, but we have taken action on a number of fronts in the life of the previous Government under various UN protocols. We have continued the process of engagement at EU level since the last judgment in which the EU accepted it had a responsibility. We have won considerable support from the Nordic countries and others to take some of those actions, which we have extensively followed through over a long period. We will continue to make our views known. The increased inspectorate, the visits and all of the other controls that have been forced on the UK authorities arose from the various actions we have taken.

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